MGNA: Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance

State Rep. Carl Sciortino, whose district encompasses parts of Medford and Somerville, recently was the guest on the “Greater Somerville” program hosted by Joe Lynch on Somerville Community Access Television.

Rep. Sciortino, recently appointed co-chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation, and to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing and the House Ways & Means Committee, discussed an array of issues including the state budget crisis, legislative ethics reform, the Green Line extension project, and some of the bills he has introduced
into the current legislative session.

Watch the program here:

The commonwealth has launched a new website for its youMove Massachusetts initiative, which is dedicated to reforming the state’s transportation network.

Included on the site are details about Governor Patrick’s Transportation and Economic Security Plan, and 10 Core Themes, created through public workshops and comments last fall, that are framing the
state’s vision for transportation.

In conjunction with youMove Massachusetts, new Secretary of Transportation James Aloisi has started a blog called Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation, where he provides ideas and updates on
transportation planning and implementation, and visitors can post comments.

The following resolution appears in this week’s Medford Transcript under Letters to the Editor.

To the editor:

Whereas Ward 4 of Medford encompasses the neighborhood known as Medford Hillside; and

Whereas the Green Line extension is proposed to go to through our neighborhood; and

Whereas the state has a legal obligation to our community as a part of mitigation related to the Big Dig to conform with the Clean Air Act; and

Whereas thousands of our neighbors have come out in support of the extension to Route 16 because it gives many more residents access to the extension; and

Whereas the Route 16 stop will provide access to the bike and pedestrian paths being developed along the Alewife Brook and Mystic River; and

Whereas the plans presented by the EOT have shown no homes will be taken as a part of this project; and

Whereas the Green Line extension will enable our community to have better access to jobs and recreational activities in the region; and

Whereas investments in public transportation creates jobs, which is particularly important in this difficult economy; and

Whereas current bus service is inadequate to meet the needs of our neighborhood; and

Whereas record numbers of new riders are accessing the MBTA; and

Whereas combating global climate change requires we give many more opportunities for people to get out of their cars and access public transportation;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the Medford Ward 4 Democratic Committee supports the Green Line Extension, and we applaud the proposed terminus at Route 16; and

Be it further resolved, that we believe mitigation, including but not limited to sound and vibration barriers, can and must be thorough to protect the integrity and quality of life of our neighborhood; and

Be it further resolved, that the city of Medford should develop a rational and consistent parking enforcement system.

The Medford Ward 4 Democratic Committee unanimously approved this resolution.

Susan Guzik
Chairman
Ward 4 Democratic Committee
Manning Street
Medford